The presentation ceremony, held at the UNDP Innovation Hub in Ikoyi, Lagos, saw the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, award cheques to 45 beneficiaries selected from a pool of 65 shortlisted student innovators. Each recipient accessed substantial equity-free funding, with some grants reaching up to N50 million to scale their projects.
The SVCG programme reflects a broader policy shift aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s tertiary institutions as hubs of innovation and enterprise, rather than mere centres for academic certification. According to Alausa, the initiative aligns with the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to harness the country’s youthful population as a driver of economic growth.
Among the standout institutions, the University of Lagos led the pack, producing eight awardees who each secured the maximum grant for their projects. Other universities represented among the winners included the University of Ilorin, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Lagos State University, and Bayero University, Kano. Many of the funded innovations focus on the application of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to solve pressing societal challenges.
In his remarks, Alausa called for a fundamental shift in the philosophy of tertiary education, urging institutions to prioritise innovation, practical application, and entrepreneurship over purely theoretical instruction. He emphasised the need for leadership within universities and polytechnics that is oriented toward creativity and problem-solving.
He noted that the initiative is intended to unlock the latent potential of students, enabling them not only to acquire knowledge but to create and apply it in ways that drive societal progress. By encouraging the commercialisation of research and innovation, the programme aims to foster sustainable economic development and position graduates as job creators rather than job seekers.
The minister also challenged beneficiaries to focus on building solutions with real societal impact, rather than prioritising profit in the early stages. He described the SVCG as a catalyst for national transformation, capable of strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and establishing the country as a hub for deep-tech development.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, encouraged the young innovators to remain resilient in the face of setbacks and to continuously refine their ideas. He stressed the importance of persistence and long-term thinking in building impactful ventures.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Muntari Dandutse, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. He reaffirmed the Senate’s support for initiatives like the SVCG, noting their potential to nurture scalable businesses and drive entrepreneurship.
The scale of interest in the programme was also notable, with over 30,000 applications received for the current cohort. National Programme Coordinator Adebayo Adebajo revealed that the government is targeting as many as 200,000 applications in future editions, reflecting growing enthusiasm among Nigerian students for innovation-driven opportunities.
Looking ahead, the Federal Government has indicated its willingness to increase funding for the initiative, provided the first batch of beneficiaries demonstrates measurable impact. The move signals a long-term commitment to embedding innovation and enterprise at the heart of Nigeria’s higher education system.